SR 622: Joint Study Committee on Evaluating Escalating Costs in Georgia's Foster Care System; create

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Discussed in meetings (12)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Children and Families Committee, February 3, 2026

   From 0:26:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 622 would create a joint House-Senate study committee to examine rising foster care costs following a Department of Human Services budget deficit that affected programs and services. The sponsor identified possible cost drivers, including care for children with complex needs, delays in care approvals by the responsible managed-care organization, and court-ordered care. The sponsor said these issues arose after the previous study committee finished meeting and needed further examination. One Georgia Empowerment witness supported the proposal and urged involving young people and others with foster care experience from the beginning, potentially as committee members. A second witness, an advocate with nearly 17 years of experience connected to Georgia's foster care system, said such participation could help identify ineffective spending, opportunities for earlier support and gaps between policy and practice. The sponsor said the resolution's language must match the House version and agreed to work with the House to include people with lived experience in the process. No amendment was offered, and the committee unanimously voted to recommend passage.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 5, 2026

   From 0:08:16 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 622 would create a joint study committee to examine rising costs of out-of-home care for foster children and recommend ways to address them. The sponsor cited a Department of Human Services deficit, described the problem as longstanding, and said the government shutdown had not helped. No substantive questions followed. The committee later unanimously approved placing the resolution on the next day's calendar with three other measures.

3. Senate floor session, February 6, 2026 (legislative day 14)

   From 1:30:13 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 622 would create a joint study committee to examine rising costs of out-of-home care for foster children. The sponsor said a Department of Human Services deficit had affected programs and services for foster children. The sponsor identified higher costs for children with complex needs, delays in medical care approvals, and court orders requiring particular types of care as factors needing further study. No senators asked questions or spoke for or against the resolution. The Senate adopted it 49-0.

4. House Judiciary Juvenile Committee, February 25, 2026

   From 1:04:17 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair presented the resolution in the sponsor's absence, describing a study committee to examine rising foster care costs. The chair cited a 159 percent increase in spending since 2022 and said the committee would examine expenses and care needs. The chair described membership including six Senate appointees, six House appointees, state agencies, judicial councils and Together Georgia. No questions or substantive debate followed. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

5. House Rules Committee, March 2, 2026

   From 0:20:47 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SR 622 would create a joint study committee to examine rising costs of care outside the home for Georgia foster children. The sponsor said budget action addressed the current year's costs, but a study was needed to understand the causes and prevent a recurrence. No questions or decision followed.

6. House Rules Committee, March 25, 2026

   From 0:42:02 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The committee placed SR 622 on the day's calendar without objection after a motion and second. There was no discussion of the resolution's contents.

7. House floor session, March 25, 2026 (legislative day 37, PM)

   From 1:38:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 3149

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the resolution would establish a joint House-Senate study committee on rising foster care costs. The presenter said costs had increased 159% since 2022 and that about 10,000 children were in foster care. A member asked that the study consider low caregiver payments, inflation, population growth and outdated assumptions behind spending figures. The presenter said provider availability, location and transportation costs would also be examined. The same member asked about delays in transferring children's school and medical records when placements change. The presenter agreed that issue mattered and referred to separate legislation concerning prompt school enrollment. The House adopted the resolution, 165-0.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 28, 2026 (legislative day 8), 0:27:27
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 4, 2026 (legislative day 12), 0:25:35
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 5, 2026 (legislative day 13), 0:27:28
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 9, 2026 (legislative day 15), 0:29:54
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16), 0:46:38

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